Newbie needs PC help!

[berties45]

First of all great site, Admin feel free to move this post to an appropriate link if you want!
I attempted to install a new video card , and while doing so removed my RAM to upgrade it as well. After checking the RAM to see what kind I needed, and reinstalling the video card, all I got was an error message through my PC stating "system failed memory test". I bought and installed a new RAM stick, assuming a the RAM was no good, and now only get a single long beep code, I tried a new video card as well. Using XP Home if that matters.
As I stated above, I am a newbie to PC's so any responses please advise in english, hahaha. Thanks in advance!

[Nataku]

Welcome to the forums!

Could we get some of the specs of your system? it would help.

[berties45]

as I stated above, my system is pooched:fighty: so can't access any info. Its a P4, had 512 mb ddr1 266 ram, mvga-nvg11am(400) 64 mb w/tv (taken off video card), asus motherboard P4B266. Sorry, unless you need other info I can get out of the box thats all I can get you. Feel free to pm me if you want! Thanks again for your anticipated help!!!

[berties45]

come on guys, someone must have an idea or two what I can check to repair this PC.

[ElrichMeister]

hi sorry no one has posted anything, and welcome.

ok i did some looking on the web, and im asuming its an award bios, because that is only one that has a long beep code error, i believe its saying that it is a memory error. I see that you said that you where upgrading this computer? if so did u try the older parts and see if it works? Did it work before you attempted to upgrade? One thing i would is use 1 memory module in each dimm slot. if that doesnt work maybe something in the case is shorting out the motherboard, if that is the case then take out the motherboard out of the case, and install only the cpu, memory, and video card. you can turn it on by touching the 2 pins on the power switch header on the motherboard with a screw driver. If that fails, try 1 module on each dimm slot again, and if you have more than one module on a single dimm. if all that fails, then there is something wrong with the motherboard, or the memory

[AKHandyman]

come on guys, someone must have an idea or two what I can check to repair this PC.
In addition to what ElrichM posted above, have you tried just ONE stick of RAM? Try either slot ... and one thing that was not mentioned was a re-clear of your CMOS ... try that and put back the original Video Card and memory to see if it will post ... that's what I would try ... good luck!

BTW, welcome to PC Stats Forums! :)

[berties45]

yes everything was working fine until I pulled out the ram, counted the pins and wrote down the information on the card. I replaced the ram and the computer repeated the following error "system failed memory test", I pulled the ram out again, cleaned it off and tried it in the other two slots. Nothing changed until I bought a new 512 of ram and replaced it and installed the video card, then got nothing except the beep code. I removed the new ram and installed the old one, tried it in all the slots but got nothing but the beep code. I have had three 'techs' to look at it and they are all stumped. I don't know what they have done to diagnose the problem. I don't really want to buy a motherboard or spend a lot of money to fix an older computer when I can put the money toward a new one. I just want to know if its a stupid mistake on my part or a really involved repair that will cost me big money.

[AKHandyman]

yes everything was working fine until I pulled out the ram, counted the pins and wrote down the information on the card. I replaced the ram and the computer repeated the following error "system failed memory test", I pulled the ram out again, cleaned it off and tried it in the other two slots. Nothing changed until I bought a new 512 of ram and replaced it and installed the video card, then got nothing except the beep code. I removed the new ram and installed the old one, tried it in all the slots but got nothing but the beep code. I have had three 'techs' to look at it and they are all stumped. I don't know what they have done to diagnose the problem. I don't really want to buy a motherboard or spend a lot of money to fix an older computer when I can put the money toward a new one. I just want to know if its a stupid mistake on my part or a really involved repair that will cost me big money.
Well, it is old, so the next question would be ... do I want to throw good money after bad? or should I ask these guys for advice on a new rig? It's up to you ... IMHO ... I would ask us to give you advice on a new rig ... :D

[ElrichMeister]

hmm this is odd, im thinking the motherboard has failed, did you try the old video card as well?, maybe your PSU can handle the new parts, check the PSU

[berties45]

I am thinking of buying a P4 2.4 ghz, 1 gig ram, 160 gig hard drive, 256 mb video, 8.1 sound card, 56k modem, ethernet card, 9.1 memory card, keyboard, mouse, speakers, dvd burner, 6 usb (2 front) windows xp for $300 Canadian (almost on par with US$). Opinions? Thanks again for your responses!

[ElrichMeister]

i would not suggest investing money on old hardware honestly, so i looked on ncix.com which is a canadian site for hardware, and i configured this which will beat the pants off of that P4, well its a little more, and it doesnt include a mouse keyboar, or speakers, but you can use the older ones from the computer that went out.

OCZ Gold XTC PC2-6400 2GB 2X1GB DDR2-800 CL5-5-5-12 240PIN DIMM Dual Channel Memory Kit (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=18495)

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 160GB Hard Drive SATA2 7200RPM 11MS 8MB Cache (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=23509)

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Dual Core Processor AM2 2.2GHZ 2X512KB 65W 65NM (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=27677)

Biostar NF61SMICROAM2S mATX AM2 DDR2 GEFORCE6100 1PCI-E16 2PCI SATA2 Video Sound LAN Motherboard (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=22729)

Antec NSK4480 New Solution ATX Mini Tower Case 3X5.25 2X3.5 3X3.5INT 380W ATX12V V2.0 Black (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=25625)

LG G-H20NS10 Black DVD+RW 20X8X16 DVD-RW 20X6X16 INT SATA OEM DVD Writer (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=27454)

so all of this comes out to $369 plus whatever tax is charged and shipping, but i think its a better investment, put of course you have to put it together yourself, but we can help you out here on that part

[-=CrAnSwIcK=-]

was your PC off, and unplugged when you pulled/replaced the RAM?? I had a guy bring his PC to me...and after some prodding i found out that's what he did...lol, there were scorch marks on the first DIMM slot...i don't think a sub-par power supply would cause a long POST beep...and if the old RAM and video card don't POST, then my first guess would be the motherboard...

and as elrich mentioned above, i also don't recomend investing any money into a 4 year old system...either get a motherboard off ebay for 50$ or spend the money and buy something a bit more up to date...

[jdrom17]

I am thinking of buying a P4 2.4 ghz, 1 gig ram, 160 gig hard drive, 256 mb video, 8.1 sound card, 56k modem, ethernet card, 9.1 memory card, keyboard, mouse, speakers, dvd burner, 6 usb (2 front) windows xp for $300 Canadian (almost on par with US$). Opinions? Thanks again for your responses!
I definitely wouldn't buy that. What Elrich mentioned above is pretty decent though, but I wouldn't get a Biostar motherboard. I'd get the ASUS M2A-VM. (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=23404&vpn=M2A-VM&manufacture=ASUS)

NCIX prices are a tad high, thus you use their price matching feature to the fullest :) Lookup the pricing on www.shopbot.ca (http://www.shopbot.ca) and then get the lowest prices for each component.

[berties45]

everything was unplugged, tower was on my kitchen table when i was taking it apart. I tried reinstalling all original parts right after it wouldn't restart the first time, then started putting the Ram in other slots, used both new and old parts, tried new with old, etc. and still nothing. I decided not to spend any more money on that sytem, and I am looking for another system, just don't know what yet. Depends on what my daughter needs for college, hahaha. Thanks again guys!